This study aims to examine practices of prevention against the risky use of alcohol and other drugs adopted amongst Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses trained in different modalities - present and at a distance and also un-trained professionals. Data were collected following a semi-structured model of interview with seven nurses who worked in the PHC. A content analysis was adopted as the analytical procedure. Six themes were analyzed: training, practices, attitudes, beliefs about alcohol and other drugs; specific knowledge of treatments for alcohol and other drugs; feelings involved in dealing with the topics of alcohol and other drugs. The results suggest that the underutilization of evidence-based practice in relation to alcohol and other drugs is still prevailing, and that a permanent forum for discussion would serve to strengthen, at medium term, for training, increasing the sense of self-efficacy for dealing with this demand.